On election day, Denton passed a fracking ban, making it the first in Texas to ban further hydraulic fracturing. Only days later, they received push back. Denton is preparing for an extended court battle — a fight that cities nationwide considering similar laws will likely be watching closely.

Adam Briggle is Vice President of the Denton Drilling Awareness Group, which led the Frack Free Denton campaign to successfully ban hydraulic fracturing in the city limits of Denton, Texas. He is also an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Faculty Fellow at the Center for the Study of Interdisciplinarity at the University of North Texas. He is writing a book about fracking and Denton for Liveright Press.

In the interview, Briggle explained what led to the ban and what they expect to happen next. Regarding what others might take away from this victory in Denton, Briggle defended the rights of communities to make decisions: “Those most vulnerable to the harm should have the greatest say.”